Events and Opportunities
Employment, Training and Volunteering
- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry job opportunities - Follow the link to view jobs or create your own profile.
- Positions available at the Cary Institute of Ecosystems Studies if you are heading towards the US.
- Career opportunities at the Australian Wildlife Conservancy.
Events and Seminars
Australian Tropical Herbarium - Rainforest Plant Identification Courses 2026
Save the date!
The Australian Tropical Herbarium is pleased to announce dates for its annual Rainforest Plant Identification courses. Targeted at the interested layperson, the three day introductory workshop will:
- Describe the characteristics and values of Australia’s tropical rainforests
- Teach you the terminology used to identify Australian tropical rainforest plants
- Introduce you to the free online tools used for rainforest plant identification
- Review the field identification characteristics of important rainforest plant families
This year we will be presenting courses at James Cook University’s Nguma Bada Campus in Smithfield, Cairns, and at the Daintree Rainforest Observatory at Cape Tribulation.
Dates for the three day courses are:
- James Cook University: Friday 10 July to Sunday 12 July 2026 inclusive.
- Daintree Rainforest Observatory: Friday 4 December to Sunday 6 December inclusive.
We will provide information on course content, costs, accommodation options, catering arrangements and enrolment at the end of May.
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Enhanced Rock Weathering Research in Australia
A Symposium on Enhanced Rock Weathering Research in Australia will be held in Cairns on 25 June 2026. If you are conducting research on Enhanced Rock Weathering in Australia, you are invited to submit your abstract for the Symposium. Abstract submission due by COB 11 February 2026.
The symposium will bring together leading researchers, early career scholars, practitioners, and key collaborators to explore emerging science and practical applications of enhanced rock weathering (ERW).
There will also be a separate complementary event on Friday 26 June 2026. Visit a trial on an avocado farm in Mareeba to explore how the effects of basalt addition on crop productivity, soil health and carbon dioxide removal are being assessed. This Field Visit and tour will be open to the farming community, industry bodies and key stakeholders.
Please go to: https://enhancedrockweathering.org.au/symposium-field-visit/ for further information and to register your interest.
Publications
The Proceedings (Proceeding of the Royal Society of Queensland) journal is seeking for anything Queensland-focused work to consider publish with them. The journal publishes abstracts of completed dissertations.
Grants, Scholarships and Awards
These links will provide you with information regarding possible funding opportunities in the field of Ecology. Some may not be open at this time, but please make a note of future application dates.
The award is open to PhD candidates and Post-Doctoral researchers whose research focuses on: Reducing the risk of extreme weather events that are intensified by climate change; Fostering resilience by applying technological solutions.
Ten candidates are shortlisted by a jury and their work is published in a Compendium. Out of the 10, three are invited to Munich, Germany, to present their research at an awards ceremony. The finalists all receive funding to support their research.
Information on the application process for the 2026 Allianz Climate Risk Award will be published in the spring of 2026.
Further details are available at the Alliance Climate Risk Award website.
Aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, the Global Impact Challenge is focused on six key themes, each driving innovation to build a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable future for agriculture and food systems.
Global Impact Challenge Themes for 2026 are:
Regenerative Agriculture | Soil health monitoring & MRV |
Artificial Intelligence & Automation | AI-enabled R&D / lab processes |
Animal Health & Nutrition | Precision nutrition & feed optimization |
Climate Resilience | Climate risk forecasting & analytics |
Water & Waste Management | Precision irrigation & water efficiency |
Food Security & Nutrition | Future crops & resilient ingredients |
The THRIVE Global Impact Challenge is a worldwide search for startups developing breakthrough solutions to the most critical challenges across the agrifood value chain.
"Finalists compete for up to $1M in investment while pitching on stage in Silicon Valley at the THRIVE Global Impact Summit."
Applications are open for 2026, closing 15 May 2026. Further information is available at THRIVE Impact Challenge.
The Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering (AINSE)'s ECR grant applications open on 1 May 2026 and close 1 July 2026.
The ECRG provides up to A$10,000 (excl. GST) that can be spent on fieldwork and conference travel costs, publication fees and printing costs, and laboratory consumables (all relating to the recipient’s approved ANSTO proposal), in addition to carer requirements, including costs relating to childcare, respite, and support of dependents, subject to AINSE's discretion.
The Australian Museum's Lizard Island Doctoral Fellowships offer research grants of up to $14,300. Applications for 2026 have now closed. Check around July 2026 to see if the funding for 2027 has commenced.
JCU offers PhD Scholarships in Zoology and Ecology at Cairns and Townsville. Check these fantastic opportunities to study at JCU. Here are some great examples to start your search:
The College of Science and Engineering is one of the six Colleges of JCU and is the home of JCU's expertise in Marine Biology, Zoology, Aquaculture, Engineering, Physical Sciences, Earth Science, and Environmental Management, which forms a strong grouping, uniquely placed to tackle the grand challenges facing the world, both fundamental research and application.
Zoology and Ecology emphasises a diverse range of intellectual disciplines including zoology, ecology, botany, behaviour and evolutionary biology, within a diverse range of terrestrial habitats. The program provides graduates with the skills required to observe, explore and understand the biological world in all its diversity.
Build your zoology and ecology tool-kit at James Cook University (JCU), join the scientific community, and make a global impact.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Award - Up to $20,000, with additional support provided to attend the Academy's biennial Science at the Shine Dome event.
The Margaret Middleton Fund for Endangered Australian Native Vertebrate Animals - Offers annual science grants of up to $20,000 each to support field-based, high-quality ecological research.
The Max Day Environmental Science Fellowship Award - an annual award of up to $20,000 per awardee to assist PhD students or early career researchers with their research.
The WH Gladstones Population and Environment Fund - offers support for empirical research into how the size, distribution, material aspirations and other characteristics of Australia’s population are likely to affect our environment—not only our land and landscape, but also social cohesion, health, the economy and defence. Population pressures in other countries which may have an impact on Australia could also be part of the research. One grant of up to $24,000 is available for award every two years.
Thomas Davies Research Grant for Marine, Soil and Plant Biology - offers annual science grants of up to $20,000 each to early-and mid-career researchers in the field of marine, soil and plant biology.
Conference sponsorship - The Academy also supports research through the sponsorship of research conferences that focus on rapidly developing fields of research.
Student Research Awards - open to postgraduate and honours students conducting ecological research, to cover expenses such as field travel, research assistance, equipment or consumables. The maximum individual award is $1,500, with ten awards offered each year. Applications open 1 September and close 31 October each year.
Jill Landsberg Trust Fund Scholarship - comprises of a grant of $6,000 to support the field-based research of a postgraduate student working in applied ecology. The scope of research is open to terrestrial, marine and freshwater ecology. Applications open between March 1 and April 30 each year via an online form.
Fundamental Ecology Award - $5,000 postgraduate grant for research in the field of Fundamental Ecology. Applications open between May 1 and June 30 each year via an online form.
Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment - Each year, more than 200 postgraduate students share more than $1 million in funds to conduct research in ecology, wildlife management, and natural history. Individual grants of up to $22,500 for three years are available. Applications for this award open between 1 to 31 March (Round 1) and 1 to 30 September (Round 2). Applications close at 11:59pm on the specified date.
Applied Forest Ecology Scholarship - The ESA and an anonymous donor provide an Honours or Masters level student scholarship in the field of applied forest conservation science. The scholarship supports a student conducting research into issues important to the management and sustainability of forests. The scholarship amount is $3,500, of which $2,000 is to fund research costs and up to $1,500 is to cover travel, registration and accommodation costs for the successful applicant to attend the ESA annual conference to present the findings of their research. Applications open between November 1 and February 28 of the following year via an online form.
FPI offers scholarships for field courses and other field training programs. The full scholarships to their programs in field biology and conservation are available for three principal reasons:
- to ensure that there are opportunities for attending our courses and field programs that do not depend on payment of the course fee;
- to ensure a more diverse student body that enriches the experience for everyone;
- to provide opportunities for field training and networking to residents of the various countries in which we operate.
Google Research Scholar Program provides unrestricted gifts of up to USD 60,000 (AUD 95,754.00) to support research at institutions around the world for 12 month projects. Applicants must have received their PhD within seven years of submission. Applicants must be a full-time assistant, associate, or professor at a university or degree-granting research institution at the time of the application submission. Post-doctoral staff can only serve as a co-PI, not a primary PI. Please get in touch with the JCU Research Grants and Opportunities team at grantsconnect@jcu.edu.au
The NSW Government offers Environmental Research Grants of up to $200,000. Priorities themes: Supporting threatened species recovery and climate change mitigation and adaptation.
The Industry Fellowships Program (IFP) is a suite of three new fellowship schemes under the ARC’s Linkage Program. Please see the Australian Research Council (ARC) new Industry Fellowship Program (IFP) Guidelines.
The Ian Potter Foundation - the Foundation makes grants nationally to support charitable organisations working to benefit the community across a wide range of sectors and endeavours.
The Rufford Foundation is a UK registered charity which funds nature conservation projects across the developing world. The flagship Rufford Small Grants Programme gives funding to individuals working in developing countries who are starting on the ladder of conservation research and establishing pilot programmes. In some cases, if their work progresses well, these individuals may apply for one of the further grants from the Foundation. Since the Rufford Small Grants Programme was set up over 20 years ago, it has given in excess of £30 million through more than 5100 grants to projects in over 150 countries. The programme identifies scientists at the very early stages of their careers and provides targeted support to enable them to achieve their goal of making a difference in terms of conservation. Many recipients have gone on to be key influencers at a national and sometimes global level.
A Churchill Fellowship offers Australian citizens and permanent residents a life-changing opportunity to travel overseas for four to eight weeks to learn more about a topic or issue that they are passionate about. You don’t need an academic qualification to apply, in fact you don’t need to have completed school. You can do a Churchill Fellowship on any topic, provided there is a benefit to Australia and your community by you sharing your knowledge or skills.
Applications open now and close 5:00 pm Thursday, 30 April 2026.